Let's Get Hysterical

The track was fast. Bustin Rocks (Hook and Ladder - Shesasurething by Prospectors Gamble) and Rudy Rudy Rudy (Sharp Humor - Definition by Relaunch) were scratched. Read the Contract (Read the Footnotes - Devin's Abbey by Glitterman) took the early money, but Hysterical Cat (Bluegrass Cat - Then She Laughs by Distorted Humor) was favored at post time. I liked the look of Cooper River (Orientate - Charleston Springs by Capote) in the paddock. Hysterical Cat looked ready. Most everyone got a rousing warmup once on the track, especially Read the Contract and Cooper River. Hysterical Cat and Read the Contract outbroke the others, and soon separated themselves from the pack. The fractions were swift, :21.84, :45.74 with Hysterical Cat leading the way. Read the Contract faded after 3/8, and apparently bled. But, Hysterical Cat rolled on. Crea's Law (Thunder Gulch - Lone Tree by Exploit) dented his lead a little late, but Hysterical Cat was still 3 1/2 lengths in front at the wire. He is winner number 11 for Bluegrass Cat. Watch the Replay.

River's Chapel (Chapel Royal - Summer Band by Dixieland Band) was scratched, making a field of 5. Sway Away (Afleet Alex - Seattle Shimmer by Seattle Slew) was a slight choice over Western Mood (West Acre - True Mood by Deputy Minister), with morning-line choice J P's Gusto (Successful Appeal - Call Her Magic by Caller I. D.) at 2-1. Minutesandtouches (Rockport Harbor - Flexible Princess by Honor and Glory) was 18-1. Sway Away make a favorable impression in the paddock, but I thought J P's Gusto looked incredible. Sway Away balked at the load. J P's Gusto went to the lead. He was pressed first by Comma to the Top (Bwana Charlie - Maggies Storm by Stormy Atlantic) and then by Minutesandtouches, who got involved early. J P's Gusto shook free from those challenges, but Sway Away was making a more sustained run. He was green in the stretch, but he was coming. However, J P's Gusto held him off for his third straight win. Minutesandtouches ended up 5th (last). I thought that Minutesandtouches was involved a little early in this one, but it may be time for a return to the maiden ranks. Watch the Replay. Read more about the Best Pal here.

There were no scratches. Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes winner Carrabelle Harbor (Harbor the Gold - Silver City Lilly by Tiffany Ice) was favored. Boogie to Seattle (Bluegrass Cat - Exogenetic by Unbridled's Song) got some respect at 3-1. She was on her toes in the paddock, and looked good in the post parade. Giacomina (Matty G - Persephonie by Conquistador Cielo) and Boogie to Seattle were both a little stubborn at the load. Carrabelle Harbor was more of a problem child. They got her loaded without the jockey. She came out running, however, with Boogie to Seattle chasing. Boogie to Seattle began to retreat after a half, and The Gang and I (You and I - R C Gangster by Vying Victor) took up the chase. But, Carrabelle Harbor was cruising and went on to win by 9 1/4 lengths. Boogie to Seattle tired to 6th. Watch the Replay.

The track was sloppy (sealed), but there were no scratches. Beso Grande (Mass Media - Kiss for Kris by Kissin Kris) was favored. Joyous Music (Bellamy Road - Pyrite Queen by Wavering Monarch) and Sacred Class (Rockport Harbor - Queen Evelyn by Hennessy) were both 15-1. Media Bias
(Pleasant Tap - Sue's Prospect by Pass the Line) caught my eye in the
paddock. Sacred Class looked good in the post parade, Joyous Music was
sans pony. It was raining at Calder and the track was pretty splashy. I
tried to see which fillies were enjoying the off track, but no one was
standing out. Evil Queen (Hear No Evil - Duchess d'Or by Tour d'Or) looked best on the track to me. The start was an adventure. Nofashionsense (Sweetsouthernsaint - Fashion Maven by Mt. Livermore) attempted to wheel, impeding both Sacred Class and Tiz the Argument
(Closing Argument - Tiz Victoria by Tiznow). Media Bias was also off
slowly. I love the comment regarding the start on the official chart, "Poor."
Taking advantage of all this chaos behind was Joyous Music, who was on
the lead. She built up a a 4 length advantage while running off the rail, but
both Beso Grande and Evil Queen were coming. Beso Grande went by on the
outside, and Evil Queen on the inside, with Beso Grande getting the win
by 3/4 length. Joyous Music held third, and it was a long way back to the
rest. Sacred Class never got running after being bothered at the start,
finishing 8th. Beso Grande is winner number 5 for Mass Media. Watch the Replay.

Vegas Joe (Afleet Alex - Pose by Nureyev) was scratched, which allowed his entrymate Atlantic King (Stormy Atlantic - Funny Mood (ARG) by Equalize) to get into the race off of the AE list. Brother in Arms (Yes It's True - She's a Rebel Too by Two Punch), second in the Tyro Stakes was favored, but White Rhino (Rockport Harbor - Wildcat Princess by Forest Wildcat) was respected at 3-1. Bellamy's Boss (Bellamy Road - Divine Shadow by Capote) was 7-1. White Rhino looked good as they left the paddock, Bellamy's Boss was on his toes. Bert B Don (Harlan's Holiday - Dixie Maintenance by Dixieland Band) caught my attention in the post parade. The load was pretty smooth, but there was some restlessness among the big field. Brother in Arms went to the lead at the break, and Bert B Don went after him. Federal Exchange (Exchange Rate - Poitrine by Gulch) joined the pair on the outside. White Rhino made a bit of a run, his big white blaze making him easy to follow. The duel continued up front. Bert B Don began to move away from Brother in Arms, but on the scene late was Printing Press (Tapit - Wonder Star by Mountain Cat). He surged passed them all to pick up the win at 32-1. White Rhino ended up 5th. Not a bad debut for him, he should improve next time. Bellamy's Boss didn't get to do much running, finishing 8th. Watch the Replay.

There were no scratches in the 10 horse race. Bear Naked (Sky Mesa - Boldest of All by Bold Executive) took the early money, but Delightful Mary (Limehouse - Deputy's Delight by French Deputy) was the choice at post time. Flo's Henny (Henny Hughes - Clairlyn by Bold Executive) was dismissed at 25-1. But she looked good in the post parade, bouncing on the track. Lode Lady (Posse - Gold Strike by Smart Strike) caught my eye. Flo's Henny went to the front, but she wasn't alone up there, Bear Naked and Delightful Mary were applying pressure. Flo's Henny continued on top, but she couldn't hold off the rush of Delightful Mary, who pulled away for a 3 3/4 length victory. Delightful Mary is a nice looking, long striding filly. Looks like one with a promising future. Flo's Henny was passed late by Descriptive and Ghost Mistress, but it was still a much improved effort for her. Watch the Replay.

Blueveau (Bluegrass Cat - Slewveau by Slew o' Gold) will make her debut on the turf at Saratoga. She last worked on August 2, going 5 furlongs in 1:02.13 from the gate on the dirt at Saratoga. She is out of the winning mare Slewveau, who was placed on the turf. Slewveau has produced 5 winners, including grade I winner Mayo On the Side, who earned $642,366. One of Blueveau's siblings won on the turf. Bluegrass Cat's 28 runners have made 53 total starts, recording 11 wins, 6 seconds, 6 thirds, and $325,620 in earnings.

Elusive Tara (Elusive Quality - Lenatareese by Broad Brush) finished 5th in her only start, a 4.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight on the dirt at Churchill Downs. She sold for $120,000 as a yearling, and is the second foal out of turf stakes winner Lenatareese. Lenatareese was a debut winner at 2, and earned $223,406 in her career. Lenatareese is a half sister to 5 winners, including Royal Bean, who was grade III stakes-placed on the turf.

Pretty Tune (Concorde's Tune - Uppa Hughie by Secret Prince) was 7th in her only race, a 5 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Calder on July 10. She brought $37,000 as a 2-year-old, and is out of the winning mare Uppa Hughie, who earned $117,130. Uppa Hughie has produced 3 winners, including 2 full siblings to Pretty Tune. One full sibling, Our Tune, was a stakes winner. Two of Pretty Tune's siblings won at 2.

The rest of the field is unraced, including Forest Whip (Forestry - Swigert by Fusaichi Pegasus), who is part of an entry with Elusive Tara. She sold for $65,000 as a yearling, and is out of the unraced mare Swigert. Swigert is a half sister to 6 winners, including turf stakes winner Mutakddim.

Selling for $62,000 as a yearling was Niji's Grand Girl (Candy Ride (ARG) - Rose Russe by Nijinsky II), who is out of Rose Russe, a winner on the turf at 2. Rose Russe has produced 11 winners, including stakes winner Dancyville and grade II turf stakes-placed Seainsky. Dancyville was a debut winner at 2. Four of Niji's Grand Girl's siblings won on the turf.

Dixie Julep (Hennessy - Turning Point by Rahy) sold for $35,000 as a 2-year-old, and is out of the turf winning mare Turning Point. Turning Point has produced 2 winners, and is a half sister to 4 winners.

Warrior Czarina (Pleasantly Perfect - Well Done My Love (GER) by Dashing Blade (GB)) is the first foal out of Well Done My Love, who was a winner on the turf at 2, and stakes-placed on that surface at 3. Well Done My Love is a half sister to 6 winners.

Street Mate (Street Cry (IRE) - Day Mate by Dayjur) is out of the turf winning mare Day Mate. Day Mate has produced 4 winners, including grade II winner Tap Day. Tap Day was a stakes winner at 2, and earned $784,897 in his career.

Amelia, dam of Aguadilla (Stormy Atlantic - Amelia by Dixieland Band), was a stakes winner on the turf and earned $179,565 in her career. She has produced 2 winners, both of which won on the turf, and one of which was a debut winner on the turf at 2. Aguadilla's siblings include Kindergarten Kid, 7th in this year's Colonial Turf Cup. Amelia is a half sister to 4 winners, including stakes winner Alchemilla and Bertolini, a group III winner on the turf.

Button Girl (Mizzen Mast - Jangada by Raft) is out of the turf winning mare Jangada, who was also stakes-placed on the turf. Jangada has produced 6 winners, including Coracle, a grade III winner on the turf. Five of Button Girl's siblings won on the turf.

On the MTO list is unraced Valiant Passion (Lion Heart - Bold American by Quiet American), who sold for $11,000 as a yearling. She is a half sister to the winner New Yawker. Their dam, Bold American, is a half sister to 6 winners, including stakes winner Fifteen Love.

Other Two-Year-Old Entry

Gold Pearl (colt; Henny Hughes - Gold Pattern by Slew o' Gold) is entered in the first race at Windsor, a 6 furlong maiden race. Post time is 12:40 PM ET. He'll break from post 9 in the 16 horse race. Gold Pearl will be making his second start, having finished 2nd in a 5 furlong race at Nottingham on June 2. Gold Pearl brought $65,000 as a yearling, and $137,124 as a 2-year old. He is out of the winning mare Gold Pattern, who earned $138,465. Gold Pattern has produced 2 winners, including group III winnner Arch Swing, who was 2 for 2 as a 2-year-old.

Returning Workers

August 8

Road to War (colt; Bellamy Road - Crusading Time by Count the Time) worked from the gate at Arlington, 6 furlongs in 1:17.20.

At Canterbury Park, Vintaggrace (filly; Bellamy Road - Fast Lover by Not For Love) went 5 furlongs in 1:03.20.

Working 5 furlongs on the turf training track at Woodbine was Cher Dini (colt; Bernardini - Rare Opportunity by Danzig Connection), who went in 1:00.60.